The Grenada sentinel., 1887-03-26
THE EASTER OFFERINGS.
Kitty Grey to Her Father and Vice
Versa.

Kitty Grcy's face, usually so merry,
looked so sober and perplexea one
Thursday afternoon that Edith Halstead
reused herself from the fascinating
mysteries of Kensington embroidery to
ascertain the cause.
''What is the matter with you to-day,
Katharine Grey? I verify believe that
YOU have not smiled once since you
came over here. Have you torn your
new dress climbing fences? That is
the most probable calamity of which l
can think at the present moment"
Kitty smiled family as she shook her
,curly head. "My dress is all right,
thank you, my dear; your insinuation
is absurd. l have not climbed fence
for six weeks. 1t is exceedingly for
tunate that it is not torn, for l should
probably be obliged to wear it, even
if it were. New dresses are rather un-
common at our house."
There was little accent of bitter
ness and rebellion in Kittie's voice as
she utter the last words, which Edith
was quick to note.
"You want something that you can't
have; isn't that the trouble?' she ques-
toned shrewdly; I'm astonished, Kit
tie, you are usually so delightfully."-
philosophical with regard to such mat
tcrs. Tell me all about it, my dear,
she concluded coaxingly, casting aside
her beloved Kcnsington, that she might
give her undoubted attention to the re-
.cital of Kittie' woes. She looked so
sympathetic that Kittie yielded at once.
YES" she acknowledged, 81 want
some money; want it ba lily and there
is not the faintest possibility of my be-
ing able to get it. Someway, | can't
manage to feel at all philosophical over
this matter. 1t is horribly inconven-
lent to be respectfully poor; you should
be profoundly thankful that you don't
know from personal experience just
how inconwnient it is. Sometimes
think / would rather be street Arab
and beg from house to house, than be
obliged to economize and plan so con-
tinually in order to make respectable
appearance. There would be an actual
excitement in being extremely poor
and not knowing what one would have
to eat for the next meal, or whether
he would have any thing at ALL Two
tears glistened in Kittie's large bright
eyes, sight SO unusual that Edith
looked at her with something of dis.
may. Why should Kittie, usually SC
supremely Indifferent to trifles like
worn-out gloves, soiled ribbons, dilapi'
dated shoes and old-fashioned dresses,
suddenly become so dissatisfied with
her CHEEKY little homer For Kittie's
home was CHEEKY and pleas
ant, despite the fact that the
little town was so outrageously healthy
that Dr. Grey's income was barely
sufficient to meet the necessary ex
penses leaving no margin at all fol
luxulies. DR.. Grey was genial and
pleasant, his wife was invariably Sc
rene and even-tempered, the four boys
were generous and affectionate, even il
somewhat mischievous and tantalizing
Kittie, herself, was ordinarily as brigh
and contented u lassie as could be
found any place. What could be the
trouble to-day? 81 must find out al
about it," was Edith's unspoker
thought. Seating herself on the arm
of Kittie's chair, she imperilously or
dered the confession to proceed. "Yot
always make me your confidant event
.ually, you know, Katharine, so it vii
save trouble if you will unburden YOU
mind at once, and tell me why yor
have become so dreadfully mercenary
Proceed!"
Kittie laughed. 1t was so absurd tt
see Edith, who seldom ventured tt
contradict or oppose her in the least
put on scmblance of stern authority
"My dear child, do you see this?
she asked, drawing forth from he
pocket u portmonnaie, whose externa
appearance, at least, did not indicat
that it sccreted much wealth. 'NoV
listcn," she continued, opening it ant
pouring its contents into her lap
'Ten, fifteen, twenty-five, twenty
seven, thirty, thirty-fve. thirty-siS
thrty-seven, and this nickel with
hole punched through it, which no on
but blind old Mr. Sykes would take {
can't imagine where l got it; that !
the sum total of my wealth, Edith, and
voh! do want ten dollars so muchr'
"Why?' because fathers birthda
comes two weeks from Easter Sunday
you know,and want to give him a com
plete set of Shakespeare's works. TIL
only copy that we have is one tina
used to be grandfather's; the print
so terribly fine that father cam read
at all, and besides, Fred spilled u bo,